Light



B. AMES Feb. 12, 1929.

LIGHT Filed May 6,

CIK

Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

lT E STA TE S BUTLER AMES, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIGHT.

Application filed May 6,

rllhis invention relates to an improved form of lightI for household orkindred uses.

In my copending application Serial No. 117,006, filed June 19, 1926, Idisclosed an improved form of light which was designed to effect thescientific distribution of light radiations for reading, sewing, orsimilar purposes as well as general illumination of the room, meansbeing provided to vary the proportion of rays cast upwardly and castdownwardly in accordance with the requirements of particular conditions.Some aspects of the present invention comprise improvements upon thelight disclosed in the aforesaid copending application. A lightconstructed according to this invention has advantageous aestheticlproperties which are particularly appropriate and desirable in aluxuriously furnished room or among surroundings wherein artistic aswell as utilitarian factors are important considerations.

One aspect. of the present invention con cerns the arrangement of alight of this character in which the direction of the light radiationsis scientifically controlled so that a proportion of the light rays isused for casting a diffused light through a translucent decorative shadeof colored glass, parchment, or a shade provided with pictorial orfigured decorations. lor this purpose the reflectors. which are adaptedto control the upward and downward dispersion of the light rays, areslightly spaced and are provided with an intermediate ring of lightdiffusing material which permits a light field of low intensity to becast and reflected in the direction of the translucent shade while atthe same time permitting utilization of the major portion of lightenergy for illuminating purposes.

ln conjunction with this novel and advantageous light controlling anddirecting means, 1 provide a support for a translucent shade which isparticularly adapted to hold the shade in the desired relation to thelight reflectors in their various adjusted positions in order to permitthe maximum illuminating efficiency which is compatible with anaesthetic and pleasing arrangement of the translucent shade in relationto the light source.

A further feature of the present invention relates to the provision ofimproved forms of reflectors which are-inexpensive and easy tomanufacture and have a distinctive and attractive appearance whilehaving 1927. Serial N0. 189,265.

structural advantages over the type of refiectors commonly known totheart. A further improvement in the reflectors relates to the provision ofa new plated surface which is particularly desirable upon an upwardlydisposed light reflective surface that is normally exposed to dust whichis suspended in the atmosphere and tends to collect on the reflector inconsiderable quantities. rlhe new type of reflective surface disclosedherein permits cleaning without scratching and consequent impairment ofits reflecting efficiency.

The present invention also discloses an imn proved, simple and veryconvenient support for adjusting the dual reflector -in relation to thelight source to vary the effective distribution of the light radiationsto suit individual conditions.I

The above and further advantageous features ofthe invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoineddescription and claims in conjunction With the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the improved form of light withparts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar, view of a portion of the light with the dualreflector member shown in another adjusted position in relation to thelight source;

F ig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail;

- Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig'. 4; and

F ig. G is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 but showing another form ofthe invention.

Referring to the form of light shown par-` ticularly in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing, it is to be understood that a light of this type maypreferably be provided in the form of a table or floor light forhousehold or kindred uses. Such a light is provided with theconventional base 1 and the upstanding tubular standard 2 connectedthereto and adapted to receive the electric Wires 3 for providing energyto the incandescent bulb 4. This bulb may be of conventional form andmay be provided with a filament in which the light source 7 isconcentrated comparatively close to one horizontal plane. Secured to theupper end of standard 2 is a sheet metal shell'12 adapted to receive aconventional Edison socket 16 into which the bulb 4 is screwed. Disposedwithin shell 12 and surrounding socket 16 is the hollow reflectorsupport 30 (Figs. 2 and 3l. This reflector support is in the form of aytubular sheet metal member having an inturned upper flange 21 whichreceives a series of upwardly and outwardly extending arms 25.

Preferably support 30 is normally slightly oval in cross section but isadapted to be inserted in the tubular shell 12, the upper portion ofwhich has an outwardly flared extension 27 adapted to engage the loweredge of the support and to guide it into the shell. Thus when thesemembers are brought into telescoping relation the normally oval support3() is bent into a form which is substantially circular, and distortionof the support tends to provide a firm gripping engagement between thesame and the shell 12. In order to permit movement of support 30 inrelation to shell 12, I provide the support with diametrically disposed,struck-out finger grips 29 which are adapted to slide lin the verticallyextending slots 20 in the shell 12. Thus vertical adjustment of support30 may be effected by pressing inward upon the finger grips 29 andmoving them in relation to the shell 12, the slots and grips serving tolimit the normal relative vertical movement of the members, but beingdesigned to permit manual separation thereof if desired.

The upper ends of supporting rods 25 are secured to the dual reflectors35 by means of threaded fasteners which may be in the form of screws 38.Preferably the downwardly disposed reflector element 31 and the upwardlydisposed reflector element 32, both of which may be of dished ordistorted parabolic form, are slightly separated by spacer members orsleeves 33 which surround the screws and the ends of which abut portionsof the reflectors 31 and 32.

The preferred manner of effecting such an arrangement consists -inproviding intermediate openings 36 and 37 in reflectors 31 and 32respectively, the opening 36 being defied by an inwardly extendingsubstantially horizontally disposed flange 39 extending around thecircumference of the opening 36 and providedl with suitable openings forregistering with fastening members 38 (Figs. 4 and 5). The upperreflector is preferably provided with inwardly extending lugs 391 havingopenings adapted to register with each of the fastening members, theselugs being spaced from .each other at a considerable distance.Preferably openings 36 and 37 are so proportioned that they have aslightly larger diameter than that of the largest portion of the bulb 4,which is received within these openings.

Extending between the outer surface of reflectors 31 and 32 andsurrounding the spaced openings 36 and 37, I preferably provide adifl'usinfr ring 40 of any suitable tra-nslucent material such asfrosted or opal glass.

This ring may conveniently have a convex curvature in a vertical as wellas a horizontal direction, substantially to resemble a section of ahollow hemisphere, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Preferably the edges ofthe ring are secured to the reflectors 31 and 32 by the interposition ofstrips of felt or similar filler material 41 which is adhesively fixedto the glass and to the metal of the reflectors.

The reflectors are `preferably formed of metal which is adapted to bestamped or dra-wn and may thus preferably be provided with a series ofcorrugations 45 adjoining their outer peripheries, these corrugationsbeing irregularly disposed and giving a pleasing and distinctiveappearance to the metal reflectors while serving to reinforce andstiffen their peripheral portions and thus avoiding the necessity ofproviding peripheral beading or a separate metal reinforcement for thesame. Corrugations of this character are provided in the reflectors bydrawing them in the conventional manner to a form of the characterillustrated herewith, and leaving the folds or wrinkles which resultfrom the drawing operation in the manner in which they may happen tooccur.

The reflectors are preferably plated with chromium in order to provide ahighly reflective yet hard surface which is difficult to abrade. This isespecially important and desirable in the casev of the upwardly disposedreflector 32, since provision of a hard surface of this characterpermits the removal of deposited dust by an ordinary cloth and yetavoids scraping or abrading of the surface such as will ordinarily occurwith the delicate surface of the ordinary silvered reflector.

The present invention also discloses a shade supporting frame 50 whichis adapted to hold a shade 51 of parchment or similar material in properrelation to the light source 7 and the diffusing ring 4() in order topermit a subdued light to be cast upon and through the translucentmaterial of the shade. 'The Sfl Sri

shade frame may be conventional form,

comprising upper and lower peripheral rings 53 vand 54 and wires whichconnect these rings toeach other. In order firmly to hold the shade uponthe lamp and to permit ready detachment and attachmentof the same, Iprovide brackets 43 each of which comprise sheet metal strips 52 and 59,the mid-portions of which are secured to each other, and the outer endsof which are bowed outward and bent about the upper ring 53 of shade 50.Preferably the opposite end of the lower strip 52 terminates in a.downwardlyinclined lip 56 which is adapted to snap under the upper edgeof upper reflector 32 due to the resiliency of parts 43 and of the wirering 53. Thus the edge of the reflector' is gripped between the lip 56and the end of strip 59 which rests upon the reflector. Shade 51 maythus be'applied to the light by snapping lips 56 under the edge of thereflector and the shade may be as easily removed by reversing thisoperation.

Preferably frame 5() and shade 51 are so arranged and proportioned inrelation to the dual reflector and to the range of vertical movement oradjustment of the light source 7 that direct radiationsfrom the lightsource avoid passing directly through the translucent material of theshade, even when the light source and reflector are in their eXtremerelative adjusted positions; it being desirable, however, to have directradiations of light pass outwardly along lines which closely approachthese limits. It is thus evident that, irrespective of the relativeposition of the light source and of the dual reflector, soft diffusedlight is cast through the translucent shade 51 by means of the diusingring 40 which not only receives direct rays passing through the spacebetween reflectors 31 and 32, as defined by spacers 33, but also acertain proportion of the light rays as reflected upon the inturnedflange 39 of the lower reflector, which is preferably brightly polished;such an arrangement being particularly advantageous, for example, whenthe dual reflector and the light 4source are in an adjusted position,such as disclosed in Fig. 2. The casting of direct undiffused rays oflight from the light source through the translucent shade is thusavoided and only a soft substantially uniform glow is visible throughthe translucent shade.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention adapted to be usedin conjunction with a light of this character provided with an opaqueshade. In this form of the invention the flange 39 is clamped directlyagainst the lugs 391 by fastening means 78, and the reflectors arereinforced by a ring which may be welded or otherwise secured theretoand which is adapted to perform the same structural functions aspermitted by the diffusing ring 40 without Ahaving the optical effect ofthe same. Y

Obviously a light of the character described is adapted to be used forhousehold purposes, for instance, in installations wherein it is oftendesirable to use a large portion of the rays emana-ting from the lightsource for reading, sewing, drawing, or the like, and yet where it isdesirable to have a certain proportion of the rays cast upwardly, bothdirectly to light the room and to reflect against the ceiling to provideindirect lighting for the same. Thus a portion of the light may beconcentrated in a comparatively small area immediately surrounding andbelow the light source, while a large part of the remainder of the lightmay be cast upwardly and utilized for general illumination. A smallproportion of the light radiations are used for casting a soft glowbehind the decorative shade in order properly to define the designs orpictorial images which are depicted thereon. The arrangement of thefinger grips 29 and the telescoping members 12 and 30 permitsinstantaneous relative adjustment between the dual reflector andthelight source in order to vary the proportion of light used for generalillumination and for lighting a limited area in the immediate vicinityofthe lamp.

I claim:

1. A light comprising a light source, a dual reflector comprising anupwardly dis* posed dished reflecting surface, and a downwardly disposeddished reflecting surface, said surfaces being spaced from cach other,intermediate aligned openings in said reflectors, an incandescent bulblocated in' said openings, and means for supporting the bulb and dualreflector to permit relative vertical adjustment therebetween, saidmeans com rising hollow, telescoping sheet metal mem ers, one of saidmembers being resilient and distortable out of normal shape byengagement with the other member.

2. A light comprising a light source, a dual reflector comprising anupwardly disposedA dished reflecting surface and a downwardly disposeddished reflecting surface, intermediate aligned openings in saidsurfaces, an incandescent bulb located in said openings, and means forsupporting the bulb and dual reflector to permit relative verticaladjustment therebetween, said means comprising hollow, telescoping sheetmetal members, one of said members being resilient and distortable outof normal shape by engagement with the other member, finger gripsextending from one of said members through slots in the other member toeffect and limit relative movement thereof.

3. A light comprising a light source, a dual reflector comprising anupwardly disposed dished reflecting surface, and a downwardly disposeddished reflecting surface, said surfaces being spaced from each other,intermediate aligned openings in said surfaces, an incandescent bulblocated in said openings,

means for supporting the bulb and `dual re flector to permit relativevertical adjustment therebetween, a translucent shade concentricallylocated about said dual reflector, supportin means for the reflector,bulb and shade being arranged to prevent substantial casting of directradiations from the light source through the shadeother than rayspassing through the space between the reflecting surfaces.

4. A' light of the class described, comprising a dual reflectorconsisting of oppositely dished reflector surfaces, intermediateopenings in said surfaces, a light source in the vicinity of saidopenings, a space between the surfaces, a shade of translucent materialencircling the space and adapted to receive light radiations casttherefrom, a. frame securing said shade upon the reflector andcomprising peripheral elements secured to the shade and resilient partsholding the latter upon the re- Hector.

5. A light comprising a light source, a dual reflector comprising anupwardly disposed dished reflective surface and a downwardly 6. A lightcomprising a light source, a dished reflector having a downwardlydisposed reflective surface, a dished reflector having anupwardlydisposed reflective surface, intermediate openings in saidreflectors adjoining which the light source is located, a space betweensaid openings, elements bridging said space and connecting thereflectors to each other, and a light diffusive ring disposed outwardlyfrom said space and inwardly from the peripheries of the reflectors,said ring being adapted to vadmit some diffused light radiations intothe space between the reflectors.

Signed by me at Lowell, Massachusetts, this third day of May. 1927.'

BUTLER AMES.

